The big names played, the technical skill was high but the goals went missing as Real Madrid played AS Roma at the MCG on Saturday night.
The two European giants played out a 0-0 draw in regular time of the first game of the International Champions Cup before Roma took the 7-6 win on penalties via a save from keeper Morgan De Sanctis then the winning penalty from Seydou Keita.
Under tournament rules any drawn match is decided by a penalty shoot out but in essence the game was a dress rehearsal for both clubs which local supporters lapped up with 80,746 people attending.
Real looked to control possession in the opening minutes but Roma’s Gervinho, who would win man of the match, intercepted a pass and tried to score on the counter-attack.
While his attempt was closed down by Real defender Raphael Varane, Roma’s Francesco Totti almost opened the scoring from the resulting corner as he controlled a wild ball into the box and tried to place it into goal only for it to be cleared off the line.
New Real coach Rafael Benitez deployed Welsh star Gareth Bale in a roaming attacking role on the opposite side to fellow superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bale is the rising superstar in the Real’s side, at 25 he is just reaching his prime while Ronaldo is still at the peak of his powers and their partnership will likely define their club’s fortunes this coming season.
Bale started in a more central attacking role floating up and down with striker Jese Rodriguez while Ronaldo spent most of his time in wide positions.
Real’s teenage Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard also played in the first half and didn’t look out of his depth.
Bale and Ronaldo didn’t always find each other during Real’s first half attacking forays although individually both showed their speedy, precise dribbling but neither could conjure a true strike on goal before Ronaldo’s removal at half time.
In total Roma looked the more advanced of the two sides making well-built moves into the box in the first 30 minutes via the class of Totti and the industry of Gervinho.
Totti was given an early shower by Roma coach Rudi Garcia who clearly had a pre-game plan to only give his veteran playmaker a 30-minute run so those seeing Roma later in the week will likely see more of the Italian great.
Bale almost gave the punters an unforgettable goal on 38 minutes when he leapt into a bicycle kick from a Ronaldo cross but former English international turned Roma defender Ashley Cole bravely kept his head high and blocked the shot, taking some contact to the head but being able to continue.
After the teams entered half time at 0-0, Bale had one more chance to score early in the second half when he won a header at the near post from a Real corner kick but his attempt went wide of the post and out of bounds – it proved his last real contribution before being replaced on 55 minutes.
While the qualities and reputations of Real’s best players were well known, Gervinho proved up for the occasion with some trademark audacious runs against from the left and right wings.
The former Arsenal winger is one of the world football’s great teases, his direct, unique dribbling style and will to run at defenders always catches the eye and on his day he can turn a game no matter who the opponent.
But too often the final ball or the final man proves too much for him and as good as his initial touches looked, he couldn’t find the final pass or shot to break the game’s duck and create the first goal.
French striker Karim Benzema was introduced at half time as was German attacker Toni Kroos with both clubs making multiple changes at the break so to give their players 40-45 minute runs.
Real’s Lucas Vazquez was put in by Benzema on 83 minutes and should have scored but Roma keeper De Sanctis saved it with an out-stretched foot.
In the final minutes a few supporters launched paper planes from the top MCG level in an attempt to see if one could make it onto the playing field, the cheers for the various planes was among the louder moments of the second half.
The penalties the fans some goals and an exciting climax.
